Turmoil

The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil.

- Thomas A. Edison -

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I've been told I think too much and it's partially true. I'm not sure if too much is quite the right way to put it though - think overmuch - seems a more fitting description. I'm always thinking which comes with implications, it can be both problematic and advantageous, however thinking has kept me alive and has helped me overcome adversity, find success and mitigate the effects of failure.

Thinking about thinking

I like to think but not just in evaluation, planning and decision-making around problems and opportunities that arise but also to think creatively, imaginatively and passionately which could be called fantasize I suppose. I have a very vivid imagination and I use it to its best advantage mostly. Thinking can bring enjoyment, excitement, hope, passion, enlightenment, solace and many other positive things. It also brings sadness, despair, anger, disappointment and other less-desirable emotions of course; life is an ever-swinging pendulum after all and it'll always go both ways.

I'm not altogether sure I'd want to think less to be honest as it would severely inhibit my life. I'd like to be able to turn it off when it's time to find sleep though - I'll admit that.

When thinking about thinking I'd have to say that I prefer to find the right space to do so; emotionally and physically. It's not always possible of course as life brings unexpected, pressurised and uncontrollable moments in which we still have to think, find logic, clarity and a course of action; a decision.

In those situations, times of duress, often evaluating, thinking and decision-making can be derailed or skewed however time stops for no one and the show must go on right? It's under those conditions I strongly advocate detachment. I mean taking a moment to gain arms-length from the matter, view it more objectively and from a place of calm rather than turmoil.

Count to ten

An example is a battlefield commander in a firefight. He or she needs detachment to make better decisions in a heated moment: Read the situation, determine threats and opportunities, redeploy or reassign troops, relay the situation up-chain, take and enact orders, find flexibility, the balance of defence and attack, call in accurate close air support via the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) and generally ensure the action has the best chance of success with minimal casualties. That can't be done effectively when engaged in combat behind a rifle. That's when detachment prevails and it often takes the form of simply turning one's back on the firefight. It's a mental and physical gap away from the action or moment in which he or she can find clarity of thought and decisions that ultimately save or cost lives.

I recall my dad telling me to count to ten before acting and in a basic way this is the same thing, a simple detachment. I wish I'd done so more often back then, it would have saved a lot of pain and suffering, but I soon learned the value of detaching and things really started to happen from there. Oh, by the way detachment doesn't mean ignoring a situation, putting one's head in the sand, quite the opposite in fact.

The application

I've recently had a huge decision to make which had the ability to completely change the course of the next phase of my life. I resigned from my job a couple months ago to find more life for myself but the unexpected happened and an opportunity came up that seemed compelling, one that could bring reward in many aspects and I began to think; Decision time.

Solitude is the place in which I make the best decisions. As ownership is one of my core-values I come to the decisions I make on my own meaning I have to accept the responsibility for the success or failure that comes of them rather than lay blame on others should things not work out.

Sure, I can't always find that peace and solitude but considering I'm not working right now I was able to do so. Hiking, kayaking, off-roading in the countryside, laying in the grass looking at the sky, coffee-shop days, quiet moments at home in my garden, beach walks and other various activities were how I did it. That's where I find my best thinking occurs and therefore the best decisions also. Yes, those decisions have been wrong in the past, but there's a much better success-rate when they come from that place; Solitude. It gives me the latitude to see things better and so, think things better.

Making decisions in the heat of the moment, under duress, when one is not in a good place or when turmoil and strife surrounds us is not the best moment especially if those decisions will have far-reaching implications or may change one's life significantly.

Through the detachment-process, most recently those activities I mention above, I was able to find the right physical and emotional space in which to evaluate and see the various moving parts and possible outcomes from as many different angles as possible leading to what I hope is a better decision.

I don't like drama but understand drama happens; I tend to deal with it in brutal fashion when it does though, putting it down rather effectively. This extends to inner-drama which I guess could be called inner-turmoil. It often comes when we least want it but when it does there's often a decision required to move things forward, a decision that can be difficult to find under those circumstances. I'm actually reasonably good at that though and credit the ability to detach from the situation, the ability to hold it at arms-length and see it more clearly, for that. Doing so certainly brought me to what I hope is the right decision recently. Of course, only time will tell.

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I wonder how others find the ability for better decision-making and what strategies or concepts they apply to it? If you have a story you're happy to share please do so below, or simply comment on my thoughts above. I'm sure there's no right or wrong answers, just what works for the individual so drop me a comment if you like, I'm interested.